as told, and behold a cloud of birds suddenly
appeared that darkened the air; and flapping their wings they let fall
their feathers by basketfuls, so that in less than an hour the
mattresses were all filled. When the ogress came home and saw the task
done, she swelled up with rage till she almost burst, saying,
"Thunder-and-Lightning is determined to plague me, but may I be dragged
at an ape's tail if I let her escape!" Then she said to Parmetella,
"Run quickly to my sister's house, and tell her to send me the musical
instruments; for I have resolved that Thunder-and-Lightning shall
marry, and we will make a feast fit for a king." At the same time she
sent to bid her sister, when the poor girl came to ask for the
instruments, instantly to kill and cook her, and she would come and
partake of the feast.

Parmetella, hearing herself ordered to perform an easier task, was in
great joy, thinking that the weather had begun to grow milder. Alas,
how crooked is human judgment! On the way she met
Thunder-and-Lightning, who, seeing her walking at a quick pace, said to
her, "Whither are you going, wretched girl? See you not that you are on
the way to the slaughter; that you are forging your own fetters, and
sharpening the knife and mixing the poison for yourself; that you are
sent to the ogress for her to swallow you? But listen to me and fear
not. Take this little loaf, this bundle of hay, and this stone; and
when you come to the house of my aunt, you will find a bulldog, which
will fly barking at you to bite you; but give him this little loaf, and
it will stop his throat. And when you have passed the dog, you will
meet a horse running loose, which will run up to kick and trample on
you; but give him the hay, and you will clog his feet. At last you will
come to a door, banging to and fro continually; put this stone before
it, and you will stop its fury. Then mount upstairs and you find the
ogress, with a little child in her arms, and the oven ready heated to
bake you. Whereupon she will say to you, Hold this little creature,
and wait here till I go and fetch the instruments.' But mind--she will
only go to whet her tusks, in order to tear you in pieces. Then throw
the little child into the oven without pity, take the instruments which
stand behind the door, and hie off before the ogress returns, or else
you are lost. The instruments are in a box, but beware of opening it,
or you will repent."

Parmetella did all that Thunder-an